Shadows of Revenge

16. Wine and Confessions

That night, Becky had prepared everything perfectly. The lights were dim, candles flickered gently on the table, casting a soft glow around the room. A bottle of wine stood at the center, two glasses already filled. She had created an intimate, almost romantic atmosphere—not something Freen had expected.

Freen walked in, immediately noticing the effort Becky had put into it. She raised an eyebrow, curious. "Becky, what's all this?" she asked with a smirk. "Are we on a date or something?"

Becky forced a laugh, her heart racing just at the sight of Freen under the warm candlelight. "No, of course not," she lied. "I just thought you deserved something nice. You've been through so much, and I wanted to do something special for you."

Freen narrowed her eyes but shrugged. "Alright, if you say so. But it does feel a little like you're trying to impress me." She chuckled as she sat down, taking a sip of the wine, clearly not suspecting anything.

Becky smiled nervously. She had fallen for Freen long before she'd realized it. Every time she looked at her, her heart ached with guilt over Sarah's death but also with an undeniable attraction. Freen was so strong, so determined, and so broken—just like Becky herself. But tonight, Becky had a different plan. She needed answers. And if loosening Freen up with a little wine was the way to get them, she would go with it.

They shared casual conversation for a while, both getting tipsier by the minute. Freen laughed more freely than usual, her barriers slipping away with each sip. Becky watched her closely, noticing the slight vulnerability in Freen's eyes that wasn't usually there. This was her moment.

"Freen," Becky said softly, her voice lowering as the mood shifted, "how do you really feel about Sarah's death? I know we've never really talked about it... but I can see it still affects you deeply."

Freen froze for a second, the glass of wine halfway to her lips. She set it down, her eyes clouding over with emotion. "Sarah..." she whispered, her voice breaking just a little. "I feel... angry. Angry that God or the universe or whatever it is took her from me so violently, so suddenly. She didn't deserve what happened to her."

Becky leaned forward, her heart pounding. She could feel Freen's pain through her words, the weight of loss and grief that still clung to her like a shadow. This wasn't just about gathering information anymore—it was about understanding Freen on a deeper level.

Freen reached for her glass again, her hands trembling slightly. "She was my anchor, you know? Sarah was the one who held me together. She always looked after me, made sure I was okay, even when I didn't realize I needed it. She kept me grounded, just like..."

She hesitated, glancing at Becky, her gaze lingering in a way that made Becky's stomach flip.

"Just like you do," Freen continued softly, her voice thick with emotion. "Sometimes, when I look at you, I see her. You remind me so much of Sarah. It's strange... almost like I've found a piece of her again in you."

Becky's breath caught in her throat. Freen's words hung in the air between them, heavy with meaning. The candlelight flickered as the silence stretched, neither of them knowing what to say next. Becky's mind raced, torn between her guilt and the feelings she couldn't deny any longer.

Freen's eyes were locked on Becky's now, and for the first time, Becky saw something in them she hadn't expected—longing. Freen leaned in slightly, her face inches from Becky's. Becky's heart pounded in her chest, her pulse quickening as the tension between them thickened.

Without thinking, Freen closed the space between them, her lips gently brushing against Becky's. It was hesitant at first, almost like she wasn't sure if she should, but then the kiss deepened.

And just like that, everything shifted. All the emotions, the pain, the unspoken words—they all came crashing down in that moment of connection. The kiss was slow, deliberate, filled with a heat neither of them fully understood yet.

Becky's hands reached up, her fingers tangling in Freen's hair as she pulled her closer, her mind reeling. She had wanted this, but not like this. Not with the weight of Sarah's memory still hanging over them. But she couldn't stop herself. She had fallen too deep.

And just when the kiss seemed to reach its peak, Freen suddenly pulled back, her breath ragged.

"We... we shouldn't," Freen whispered, though her voice betrayed the desire still burning in her. The silence that followed was thick with unresolved tension, both of them still caught in the aftershock of what had just happened.

Becky was left staring at Freen, her heart hammering in her chest, while Freen avoided her gaze, her own internal conflict playing out in her eyes.